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Air Force AFSC · Aviation

11EX Experimental Test Pilot

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

Experimental Test Pilots plan and conduct flight test programs for aircraft, aerospace vehicles, flight simulators, and related systems.

Core Skills

  • Flight test program planning and direction
  • Aircraft and simulator flight test reporting

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Commercial Pilots

Conducting military flight test programs provides directly relevant aircraft flight experience for civilian commercial flying.

How to prepare: Have a civilian flight-training provider review your flight records and certificates to identify the remaining FAA certification and rating steps for your intended flying work. Commercial certification requires an appropriate medical exam, specified flight experience and knowledge, and written and practical exams.

What the civilian work involves
  • Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
  • Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Aeronautical charts

Aerospace Engineers

Planning, conducting, and reporting on flight tests for aircraft development and modification transfers to aerospace engineering test work.

How to prepare: Compare your degree and transcripts with the engineering-degree expectations of flight-test engineering employers to determine whether additional degree-level education is needed. Aerospace engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a related field, so your existing degree may leave a degree-equivalence gap rather than just a few missing courses.

What the civilian work involves
  • Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
  • Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.

Notes & Sources

  • Commercial pilots must pass periodic physical and practical flight examinations to continue exercising their certificate privileges.
  • National-defense aerospace engineering projects may require a security clearance; some clearance types and levels require U.S. citizenship.
Evidence for this guidance (5 documents)
  1. DAFOCD, 30 Apr 26: EXPERIMENTAL TEST PILOT (11EX)

    [1] Specialty Summary section "EXPERIMENTAL TEST PILOT"; normalized cached text lines 1227-1234; family-level section (11E4, 11E3, 11E1)

    PDF page 35 (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Flight test program planning and direction, Aircraft and simulator flight test reporting, Commercial Pilots (O*NET 53-2012.00), Aerospace Engineers (O*NET 17-2011.00)

  2. O*NET: Commercial Pilots

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Commercial Pilots (O*NET 53-2012.00)

  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics: airline and commercial pilot duties and entry requirements

    [3] What They Do; How to Become One; Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations; updated 2026-08-27, retrieved 2026-09-23

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Commercial Pilots (O*NET 53-2012.00)

  4. O*NET: Aerospace Engineers

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Aerospace Engineers (O*NET 17-2011.00)

  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics: aerospace engineer education and licensure

    [5] How to Become One; Education; Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations; updated2026-08-27, retrieved2026-09-23

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Aerospace Engineers (O*NET 17-2011.00)

Defense contractor jobs for 11EX

Similar Specialties

Similarity is a browsing aid, not documented equivalence or transfer eligibility.

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Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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